Vibrationary exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus in which movement of a weight by the user generates a vibration which acts on the muscles being exercised.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for improvingthe effectiveness of exercise and which can be used to improve theeffectiveness of training for sportspersons and athletes and which canalso be used for therapeutic purposes, such as increasing theeffectiveness of exercise in improving defective muscularity and bonedensity etc.

Resistance training using a range of equipment such as weights, springsand other devices is a universally used method of improving the strengthof men and women, including athletes and sportspersons. In order toimprove the effectiveness of resistance training a wide range ofmodifications and adaptations have been tried.

The use of vibration applied to muscle or tendon induces a non-voluntarymuscular contraction called the “tonic vibration reflex”. Strengthtraining with additional vibration has been shown to augment strengthand power over and above that achieved with strength training alone.This effect is achieved through the recruitment of additional musclefibres above the normal recruitment level. Additionally vibration isbecoming a common tool used in the retardation of muscle and boneatrophy on earth and in space. Previous strength training investigationshave utilized electric motor driven vibration devices that cause anon-smooth contraction of the muscles.

Current commercially available weight training devices rely either onun-modulated loads or full body vibration. These methods apply novibrational loading at all, or fail to directly apply specificfrequencies to targeted muscle groups, the latter full-body vibrationsystems can also quickly lead to discomfort and other negative physicalside-effects.

A publication in Journal of Sport sciences 1999, 17, 177-182 disclosesthe effect of vibrationary stimulation on bilateral biceps curlexercises. In this publication the superimposed vibration during theexercise was transmitted to the muscles by a specially designedvibratory stimulation device. It consists of an electromotor with aspeed reduction and eccentric wheel. The load is held by a cable whichis passed through the eccentric wheel via the pulleys. The eccentricrotation elicited peak-to-peak oscillations of 3 mm with a frequency of44 Hz. After vibration damping owing to cable transmission, theacceleration on the handle was about 30 m/s⁻² (RMS). Vibration from thetwo-arms handle was transmitted through the contracting muscles involvedin the pulling action.

Such an apparatus is impractical for use by people in training underactual conditions owing to its need for an electricity supply and itssize; it also requires knowledge of electronics and mechanics for use.

We have now devised an improved apparatus for enabling a vibration to betransmitted to a person exercising.

According to the invention there is provided an exercise apparatus whichcomprises a resistance means able to provide resistance to a movement bya user and a vibration means able to impart a vibration to the user,which vibration acts on a muscle or muscle group being exercised and inwhich the energy for the vibration means is provided by a movement ormovements of the user.

The resistance means can be any known or conventional resistance meanssuch as free weights, weight machines, springs, hydraulic resistanceetc. It is a feature of the invention that it can be used with virtuallyany apparatus and can be fitted to existing equipment so as to increaseits effectiveness.

When used with a weight machine, the weights are automatically returnedto their starting under the action of their own weight and with freeweights there can be a return spring connected to the weight by a cable.

The vibration can take place in both directions of movement i.e. whenpushing and pulling on a resistance.

Preferably the user holds a grip, bar or handle and the vibration meansacts on the bar, grip or handle.

Alternatively, particularly when exercising the feet, legs or back theuser pushes or pulls with his feet or legs against resistance and thevibration means acts on that part of the machine in contact with thefeet or legs.

With weights and weight machines the substantially linear motiongenerated by the movement of the exerciser lifting or moving the weightsis converted to a rotational motion e.g. by a cable passing over apulley, which cable is connected to the weights or to part of the weightmachine moved by the exerciser.

The rotational motion can be made intermittent using any kind ofstick/slip or intermittent braking mechanism. In one embodiment a handlepulled or pushed by an exerciser is attached to one end of a cable orbelt which passes between two rollers that rotate as the cable or beltpasses between them. The cable or belt connects to the weight to belifted at its other end. One of the rollers has pads or areas of raisedrubber equally spaced around the wheel (resembling a cog). These rubberpads exert a greater resistance to the cable as is rotates and comesinto contact with the other roller. This has a braking action on thecable or belt until it is clear of the pad. The frequency of this brakedepends upon the rotational speed and on the distance of separationbetween consecutive rubber “brakes” on the wheel. The device can be usedequally well on existing machines or on free weights (bar anddumbbells). For use with free weights, one end of a cable or belt isattached to the bar or dumbbell and passes through the vibration device.The other end of the cable or belt is attached to a spring and thespring is fixed e.g. to the floor. The subject lifts the weight, drawingthe belt or cable through the vibration device and, upon relaxation, thecable is drawn back through the vibration device by the spring to itsstarting position.

In another embodiment of the invention the vibration means can beoperated by connecting a moving part of the apparatus to a means forconverting linear motion to an intermittent rotational motion. With amachine which the uses hands, feet or other part of the anatomy to movea bar or pad which is connected to a weight or other resistance by acable or belt, this cable or belt normally passes over a pulley andconnects with the weights; this pulley can be connected to a means forproviding the vibration. For example there can be a ratchet wheel and aspring loaded ratchet attached to the pulley so that, as the ratchetwheel rotates, the ratchet mechanism causes the pulley to rotate injerks as in conventional ratchets and this causes a vibration to betransmitted to the user.

Alternatively a further pulley wheel can be incorporated with a cablepassing over this pulley wheel and thus imparting a rotational motion tothis pulley wheel and this rotational motion can be converted to avibration as described above.

The cable or belt will transmit the vibrationary motion directly to theuser so that it automatically goes to those muscle groups beingexercised.

In a further embodiment of the invention utilises the application ofmodulation to a damping system connected between static and movingcomponents of a weight training or exercise device, providing a rapidlychanging force which is transmitted into the working bodily musclegroup. The vibration frequency may be pre-set by design or adjustable tosuit different working muscles to achieve an optimal response.

The damping is effected on a flow of fluid through a damping means andthe flow of fluid is operated by a pumping means connected to a movingpart of the equipment e.g. a piston and cylinder arrangement or by arotary pump or by any other means. The damping system can comprise afluid passing through a control valve so that, by intermittently varyingthe flow of fluid through the control valve, a vibration can be set up.For example the control valve can turn the flow of fluid on and off at adesired frequency, the control valve settings can be varied so afrequency within a wide range can be chosen.

As the aperture of pneumatic/hydraulic control valves may be hard tocontrol, a variable on-off duty cycle or mark to space ratio may be usedto control the relative on-off period of the valve whilst maintainingthe repeat frequency of the produced vibration, thus producing avariable resistance over time proportional to the ratio of time overwhich the valve is closed.

The fluid can be a gas e.g. air or a liquid e.g. a hydraulic liquid.When the fluid is a hydraulic liquid the control valve and pumping meansform part of a closed hydraulic circuit.

The control valve can comprise a switchable valve system allowing singleor double action damping controlled by simple manual or mechanicalmeans, or under electronic hardware or programmable software control.

In this particular embodiment working load weights may be substitutedfor by use of a pneumatic or hydraulic damping system alone as in ahydraulic resistance system of the type sold commercially.

The frequency of vibration is preferably adjusted so that it is at theoptimum frequency for the muscle groups being exercised. Preferably themeans for generating vibrations can generate vibrations of variablefrequency and variable amplitude. Typical frequencies of vibration arefrom 5 to 100 Hz e.g. 10 to 50 Hz.

The invention can be retrofitted to existing weight machines byattaching a means for generating vibrations to a moving part of themachine connected to a part moved by the user so that the vibrationgenerated is transferred to the muscle groups being exercised.

As well as assisting in the development of improved muscularity insportsmen and women, athletes etc. the invention can also be used forincreasing the muscular strength of people who suffer from illness orweakness due to an incapacity and for helping people who suffer or arerecovering form an illness or other incapacity.

It is a feature of this embodiment that, compared with existing methods,it enables a reduced weight load to be used with no loss ofeffectiveness.

In another embodiment of the invention an apparatus is provided todevelop the muscular groups involved in breathing and in improvingbreath control.

In this embodiment of the invention there is provided an apparatus whichcomprises a breathing means through which a user can breathe and an airflow interruption means connected to the breathing means, whichinterruption means is adapted to cause a periodic interruption to airflowing through the interruption means to the breathing means.

The breathing means can comprise a mouthpiece which can fit over themouth and/or nose of a user so that a user breathes through themouthpiece. This mouthpiece is preferably connected to the interruptionmeans e.g. by a conduit, or is directly attached to the interruptionmeans.

The interruption means preferably produces regular periodicinterruptions to the flow of air reaching the mouthpiece and beingbreathed by a user. The interruption can be caused by a valve mechanism,such as a reed or other oscillating valve system, with the air passingthrough valve mechanism being regularly interrupted. Alternatively therecan be a mechanically or electrically controlled valve mechanism whichregularly and periodically interrupts the flow of air.

The frequency of the interruptions to the flow of air is preferably inthe range of 5 to 100 Hz e.g. 10 to 50 Hz typically 30 Hz. This meansthat the flow of air through the interruption means is interrupted atthis frequency.

An embodiment of a mechanical interruption means comprises two discs, atleast one of which can be rotated relative to the other, with each ofthe discs having at least one hole in it; the discs being positioned inthe air flow so that, as at least one of the discs rotates relative tothe other disc, the holes in the two discs are periodically coincidentso as to form a continuous air flow passage.

This embodiment will strengthen and develop the muscles associated withbreathing and, as well as assisting in the development of breathcapacity in athletes, singers etc. it can be used to help developincreased breathing capacity in people who have reduced or defectivecapacity.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention attached to anexercise machine

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is one disc used in a different embodiment of the invention

FIG. 4 is a second disc

FIG. 5 shows the discs of FIGS. 2 and 3 in position

FIG. 6 shows a breathing apparatus using the invention and

FIG. 7 shows a hydraulic damping system applied to a weight machine

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a belt (1) is connected at one end to theweights lifted by the user and the other end is attached to the handgrips moved by the user. A roller (2) has rubber pads (3) positionedaround its circumference. Roller (4) is positioned so that the band (1)is gripped between rollers (2) and (4). In use, as the user pulls on theweights, the band moves and causes the rollers (2) and (4) to rotate. Asthe band passes over the pads (3) a vibration is given to the band whichvibration is passed onto the user via the hand grips. This vibrationacts on the muscles being exercised and the frequency of vibration canbe controlled by the number of pads (3).

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 a first disc (5) has two holes (6) in itand a second disc (7) has holes (8) of varying size in it. The two discsare located on a common axis and the disc (5) is connected to a motor.As the disc (5) is rotated by the motor, the holes (8) are periodicallycoincident with the holes (6).

Referring to FIG. 6, the discs are mounted in a chamber (1) with an airconduit (10) passing through it with one end connected to mouthpiece(9). The air conduit is positioned so that it connects to a hole (8) andso, as one of the holes (6) is coincident with the hole (8) a continuousair passage is formed and, as the hole (6) moves out of coincidence,there is an interruption to the air supply and this periodicinterruption causes a vibration effect in the breathing muscles of theuser. The rate of flow of the air to the user can be controlled by thesize of the hole (8) used and the frequency of vibration controlled bythe speed of rotation of the disc (5).

Referring to FIG. 7 a weight lifting machine comprises a fixed framework(21), a sliding member (22) and attached adjustable weight (23) whichmay slide up and down guide rails (24) when a person pulls on cable (25)which is guided over pulley (26), being connected to the sliding member(22) and weight (23). The sliding member (22) is attached to a piston(27) which is located in a cylinder (28).

When cable (25) is pulled, the sliding member (22) with attached weight(23) is moved upwards against gravity providing a working load to theuser's muscles, the piston (27) displacing air in cylinder (28) outthrough port (29). The air displacement is checked by a control valve(30) which is driven on and off at the desired frequency by a controller(32), causing the air flow to be intermittently interrupted beforerelease to atmosphere via port (31). The switched air-flow checkingaction of control valve (30) provides a time variant damping load overand above that provided by the lifted weight (33), translating vibrationinto the operator's muscles employed in the lifting action.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. An exercise apparatus which comprises (i) aresistance means able to provide resistance to a movement by a user and(ii) a vibration means able to impart a vibration to the user, whichvibration means acts on a muscle or muscle group being exercised and inwhich the energy for the vibration means is provided by a movement ormovements of the user.
 23. An exercise apparatus according to claim 22in which the resistance means is selected from free weights, a weightmachine, a spring resistance and a hydraulic resistance.
 24. An exerciseapparatus according to claim 23 in which there is a moving componentselected from one or more of a grip, bar, plate and handle and, in use,a user holds or presses against the moving component and the vibrationmeans acts on the muscle or muscle group being exercised via the saidmoving component.
 25. An exercise apparatus according to claim 22 inwhich the vibration means is connected to a component of the apparatuswhich is to be moved and converts the motion of the said component ofthe apparatus to a rotational motion and the rotational motion is madeintermittent by a means selected from a stick/slip mechanism,intermittent braking mechanism and a ratchet mechanism.
 26. An exerciseapparatus according to claim 25 in which there is a cable or beltattached to the said moving component of the apparatus, which cable orbelt passes over a pulley which comprises or connects to the vibrationmeans.
 27. An exercise apparatus according to claim 22 in which thevibration means comprises cable or belt which passes between two rollersthat are rotated by movement of the cable or belt as it passes betweenthem, the cable or belt connecting to a weight to be lifted and in whichone of the rollers has areas of raised rubber equally spaced around theroller so that these areas exert a greater resistance to the cable orbelt as this roller rotates and comes into contact with the other rollerand in which there is a handle or grip attached to a cable or belt. 28.An exercise apparatus according to claim 22 in which the vibration meanscomprises a fluid pumping means which is operated by a movement ormovements of the user and a control means for intermittingly varying theflow of fluid through the pumping means.
 29. An exercise apparatusaccording to claim 28 in which the control means is a control valve andthe pumping means comprises a cylinder pump or a rotary pump.
 30. Anexercise apparatus according to claim 28 in which the control means is aswitchable valve system allowing single or double action with dampingcontrolled by a damping control means selected from manual or mechanicalmeans, electronic hardware control means and programmable softwarecontrol means.
 31. An exercise apparatus according to claim 22 in whichthe frequencies of vibration are from 5 to 100 Hz.
 32. An exerciseapparatus according to claim 25 in which the frequencies of vibrationare from 5 to 100 Hz.
 33. An exercise apparatus for exercising thebreathing muscles, which apparatus comprises a breathing means throughwhich a user can breath and an air flow interruption means connected tothe breathing means, which interruption means is adapted to cause aperiodic interruption to air flowing through the interruption means tothe breathing means.
 34. An exercise apparatus according to claim 13 inwhich the breathing means comprise a mouthpiece adapted to fit over themouth and nose of the user.
 35. An exercise apparatus according to claim14 in which the interruption means comprises a mechanism selected from avalve mechanism and a reed valve system and an oscillating valve systemand the air passing through valve mechanism is regularly interrupted.36. An exercise apparatus according to claim 14 in which theinterruption means comprises a mechanically or electrically controlledvalve mechanism which regularly and periodically interrupts the flow ofair.
 37. An exercise apparatus according to claim 14 in which theinterruption means comprises two discs, at least one of which can berotated relative to the other, with each of the discs having at leastone hole in it; the discs being positioned in the air flow so that, asone of the discs rotates relative to the other disc, the holes in thetwo discs are coincident periodically so as to form a continuous airflow passage.
 38. An exercise apparatus according to claim 14 in whichthe frequency of the interruptions to the flow of air is in the range of5 to 100 Hz.